Purpose: To evaluate in vitro the influence of dynamic loading applied to a glass-fiber-reinforced hybrid composite resin on its flexural strength in a moist, simulated oral environment.
Materials and Methods: Three-point flexural strength specimens were subjected to cyclic loading in water at 37°C and 55°C to investigate the influence of immersion temperature on impact fatigue properties. Specimens were subjected to cyclic impact loading at 1 Hz for up to 5 × 105 cycles to obtain the number of cycles to failure, the number of unbroken specimens after 5 × 105 cycles, and the residual flexural strength of unbroken specimens. Maximum loads of 100, 200, and 300 N were chosen for both the non-reinforced and the glass-fiberreinforced hybrid composite resins.
Results: The mean residual flexural strength for 100 N impact loading at temperatures of 37°C and 55°C was 634 and 636 MPa, respectively. All specimens fractured at fewer than 5 × 105 cycles for loads of 200 and 300 N.
Conclusion: Reduced numbers of cycles to fracture and lower fatigue values were observed as both the maximum load and immersion temperature increased.